Sunday, October 30, 2016

What does the guy with the fastest internet in the United States use
his jealousy-inducing bandwidth for? Analyzing X-rays… and gaining an
advantage in Call of Duty, of course.
Startup and community-run internet service providers have grabbed
headlines over the last two years as they’ve begun rolling out the
first 10 gigabit-per-second residential internet connections in the
United States. As far as I can tell, though, only one person in the
entire country has actually bought one of these connections, which are
still incredibly expensive because the technology is so cutting edge.

I met with James Busch—a radiologist and the proud owner of what I am
almost certain is the first 10 Gbps residential connection in the United
States—at a coffee shop in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I told him about my
trials and tribulations with Time Warner Cable in New York City, and he
tried to drum up some empathy from a distant past in which he used to
send medical imaging studies on a T1 line in Boston. I reminded him that
most of us were still on dialup at the time. And then I raised the
point that his family alone is living in our blazing fast future.
“When you think about it like that, it’s pretty cool,” Busch told me. “You get spoiled with it.”
For reference, the Federal Communications Commission officially
classifies “broadband” as 25 Mbps. His connection is 400 times faster
than that.

Busch's fiber setup. His entire house is wired, and fiber comes directly into the house. Image: James Busch

An argument that’s increasingly being raised by policymakers and telecom companies
is that gigabit fiber networks—which generally offer 1 Gbps
connections—have had relatively slow uptake, because no one needs a
connection that fast. Busch found a way to make good use of his 1 Gbps
connection, and now he's found a use for 10 Gbps, too.
“An X-ray averages around 200 megabytes, then you have PET scans
and mammograms—3D mammograms are 10 gig files, so they’re enormous,”
Busch said. “We go through terabytes a year in storage. We’ve calculated
out that we save about 7 seconds an exam, which might seem like, ‘Who
cares,’ but when you read 20,000 or 30,000 exams every year, it turns
out to be something like 10 days of productivity you’re saving just from
a bandwidth upgrade.”
While 10 gig connections sound excessive at the moment, Busch says his family quickly started using all of its 1 gig bandwidth.
“We ballooned into that gig within eight or nine months. With my
kids watching Netflix instead of TV, with me working, we did utilize
that bandwidth,” he said. “There were situations where my daughter would
be FaceTiming and the others would be streaming on the 4K TVs and
they’d start screaming at each other about hogging the bandwidth. We
don’t see that at 10 gigs.”

"You get used to everything happening instantly"

Most importantly, though, his connection has made him a better gamer, because of a phenomenon known as “host advantage” that exists on games that use peer-to-peer servers.
“If you play first person shooters and you’re the host, you get a
few milliseconds advantage on other people you’re playing against,”
Busch said. “If you have a gig connection, you’re always host, so you
end up ruling. I used to play with my buddies online, and one was from
Chattanooga so it was always me or him who was the host. We’d always
rule Call of Duty with 20 or 30 kills.”
“You get used to everything happening instantly,” he added.
“Windows updates, app downloads—instant. The only thing that ties it up
is processing power, not the connection.”

"Offering 10 gigs has the symbolic value of ‘plenty.’ It shows our technology can do what no one else can do."

So why does Busch have a 10 Gbps and the rest of us
don’t? For one, 10 Gbps offerings are rare and scattered in mostly rural
communities that have decided to build their own internet networks.
Most companies that have the technology offer gigabit connections (a
still cutting-edge technology only available in a handful of cities) at
affordable prices and 10 Gbps connections at comparatively exorbitant
ones. In Chattanooga, 1 gig connections are $69.99 per month; 10 gig
connections are $299.
Thus far, 10 Gbps connections are available in Chattanooga; parts
of southern Vermont; Salisbury, North Carolina; and parts of Detroit
and Minneapolis. But besides Busch, I couldn’t find any other people in
the United States who have signed up for one.
EPB, the Chattanooga government-owned power utility that runs the
network, confirmed that Busch is the city’s only 10 Gbps residential
customer. Rocket Fiber, which recently began offering 10 Gbps in
Detroit, told me that it has “no customers set in stone,” but that it’s
in talks with prospective ones. Representatives for US Internet in Minneapolis and Fibrant in Salisbury did not respond to my requests for comment. Michel Guite, president of the Vermont Telephone Company, told me his network has no 10 Gbps customers, either.
“We offer it as a symbolic gesture,” Guite told me. “Offering 10
gigs has the symbolic value of ‘plenty.’ It shows our technology can do
what no one else can do. We think the project is fun.”
Guite says that several research institutions have 10 Gbps
connections, and Fibrant’s first 10 Gbps connection was a local school.
If you know of anyone else who has 10 Gbps as a residential customer,
email me with a screenshot of your speed test or your story!
Speaking of speed tests: Busch says only a couple providers can actually handle his connection.
“When I do a speed test, you really feel the engines are turning
when you hit the button. I’m at 9.8, 9.5 [gigs per second] reliably,”
Busch told me. He was supposed to send me a screenshot of the speed
test, but technical difficulties have made it inaccessible for weeks.
“I’ve tried on sites that don’t support the 10 gig connection and it
freaks out. The speedometer only says 1 gig, but it’ll wrap around a
couple times.”
Colman Keane, director of fiber technology at EPB, told me that
the organization had to work with Ookla (the most popular online speed
test) to “tweak” its system to accommodate the connections.
Another problem affecting 10 Gbps uptake—at least in
Chattanooga—is that it isn’t being pushed too hard by EPB because few
customers are willing to invest in the enterprise-level internet ports
and cables needed to actually get those speeds. Keane said EPB has been
more conservative in promoting 10 gig connections because of growing
pains it had with 1 gig customers.
“During our 1 gig launch we ran into numerous Windows-based
computers with 1 gig ports that had drivers that would only support
between 500 and 600 mbps, which makes for a difficult conversation with a
customer,” Keane said, meaning customers weren’t getting what they paid
for because their computers couldn’t handle it. “Prior to [10 gig]
launch, we spent a good bit of time determining minimum specs for both
PCs and routers. So with this launch, we can generally start the
conversation with what kind of equipment they will need to use the 10
gig service.”
Busch, an early adopter of just about everything, says he’s only
got two machines hard-wired to be able to take advantage of the 10 Gbps
connection; his wireless router is only able to put out a 3 Gbps signal.
Somehow, I don’t feel bad for him.

Monday, September 5, 2016

Take a look at this list of top 12 South African foods to try in order
to get the best picks from dishes with local, Dutch, Malay and French
influences. South Africa is by far the most cosmopolitan country in
Africa and has a mature tourism industry. There is so much to do and see
from going on safari to visiting townships; taking indulgent food and
wine tours in the Cape to visiting a foodie haven in Durban. However due
to the number of South African migrants worldwide, you no longer have
to travel very far to experience a taste of South Africa. Although
nothing beats the authentic experience that travel brings, that South
African experience may be closer than you think.

1.
Chakalaka

Chakalaka is a very simple and easy to make relish which has
grown out of the townships of South Africa's cities. Usual components
are baked beans, curry, peppers and carrots. It is almost impossible to
find a South African bbq (braai) without chakalaka.

2.
Biltong

From its humble beginnings as a cured meat made purely for
preservation, to the spicy snack it is today, biltong is ubiquitously
one of the top South African foods to try. It is loved by many a South
African, but may be an acquired taste for others. If you have tried beef
jerky and loved it, it is highly likely that biltong will go down very
well.

3.
Potjiekos

Potjiekos is a quintessential South African dish born purely
out of necessity to cook whilst on the move in the out doors. With its
roots set in an Afrikaaner tradition which supposedly emerged during the
Great Trek, potjiekos has come a long way; yet it is part and parcel of
South Africa's food cuture as we know it today.

4.
Durban Chicken Curry

An introduction to Durban curries, this chicken curry recipe is
quick and easy. The results are very satisfying. You end up with a
moreish and comforting curry that goes very well with basmati rice and a
sambal on the side.

5. Bunny chow

Bunny chow is another popular South African food, but it is of Durban origin. It basically entails a hollowed out half-loaf filled with delicacies. Some of the delicacies that are used in bunny chow include curry lamb, chicken or beef but in some instances, it can be vegetarian in nature.

Bunny chow
Bunny chow is another popular South African food, but it is of Durban
origin. It basically entails a hollowed out half-loaf filled with
delicacies. Some of the delicacies that are used in bunny chow include
curry lamb, chicken or beef but in some instances, it can be vegetarian
in nature.

Read more: http://buzzsouthafrica.com/south-african-food/

Bunny chow
Bunny chow is another popular South African food, but it is of Durban
origin. It basically entails a hollowed out half-loaf filled with
delicacies. Some of the delicacies that are used in bunny chow include
curry lamb, chicken or beef but in some instances, it can be vegetarian
in nature.

Read more: http://buzzsouthafrica.com/south-african-f

6.
Milk Tart

Milk tart, otherwise known as melktert in Afrikaans, is South
Africa's milky answer to the traditional custard tart. A recipe imported
by the Dutch, yet melktert is a part of the fabric of South African
food that every year, the 27th of February is celebrated in South Africa
as the official milk tart day.

7.
Apricot Blatjang

Apricot blatjang is a South African chutney made with dried
apricots. It is the perfect condiment that goes well with cheese or even
bobotie. Is this a chutney, you may ask? Yes, it is a chutney. But not
all chutneys qualify as blatjangs.

8.
Malva Pudding

Malva pudding is a South African dessert with its origins in
the Cape. It is said to have been created by the Dutch settlers and
incorporates apricot jam in the recipe. It is so decadent and is
comparable to sticky toffee pudding, but it is so much better. Trust me!

9.
Pap

Pap is the South African name for the stiff cornmeal porridge
which is so famous across the African continent. It is an essential dish
at braais (South African barbecues) and is perfect for scooping up
thick and tasty sauces and stews.

10. Boerewors

Boerewors is a high quality sausage often spiralled into a
circular shape, as it is presented. It is made using a high content of
meat and can be made of beef, pork or game meat. It is a must have at a
braai.

11. Beef Bobotie

Bobotie is a purely South African dish made with minced or
shredded meat, fruit and spices. It is topped off with a savoury custard
and bay leaves and baked in an oven until the custard is ready.

12. Braai

Braai is basically roast meat. Braai as a delicacy has been elevated to the level of an art form due to its popularity amongst the general population most specifically white South Africans

Droewors

Read more: http://buzzsouthafrica.com/south-african-food/2/

13. Droewors

Droewors is a spiced sausage and can be generally regarded as a smaller, thinner version of boerewors but without the pork. They are usually sundried like biltong and have a longer shelf life when compared to boerewors.

"Nice food, nice location, nice staff, busy, fast service. The food was
actually very good and combined with the great service this is a place
to go back to. The location is perfect on the bay with all outside
tables looking onto the water."